N.Y. couple charged with starving, beating daughter, 12

NEW YORK - A couple in Queens is charged with starving and beating their daughter for more than a year, reports CBS New York.

The district attorney's office said the 12-year-old girl weighed only 58 pounds and alleged she was repeatedly beaten with a baseball bat, rolling pin and broken metal broom handle by Rajesh Ranot, 46, and his wife, Sheetal Ranot, 31, of Ozone Park, N.Y.

According to the station, the suspects' daughter was also allegedly locked in her room without food or water for long periods of time between Dec. 1, 2012 and May 6, 2014.

The station reports that, in one instance, the child was rushed to the emergency room to undergo surgery for a cut on her wrist after allegedly being hit with a broken metal broom. The cut was reportedly so deep it went down to the bone.

The girl was initially afraid to come forward about the alleged abuse because she did not want her younger step-siblings to be taken away by authorities and placed in foster care, the district attorney's office said. However, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said the girl ultimately came to authorities with the allegations, allowing them to make the arrests, reports WPIX.

Rajesh Ranot is charged with second- and third-degree assault, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. Sheetal Ranot - the child's step-mother - was charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child on July 29; on Aug. 1, she was charged with first- and second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Brown, along with New York City Administration Commissioner Gladys Carrion, announced the charges Tuesday. If convicted, both parents could face at least seven years in prison.

Rajesh and Sheetal Ranot are due back in court on Aug. 13, CBS New York reports.